Norway plans tests on young minke whales
In addition to Japan and Iceland, Norway is also among the nations that do not comply with the international whaling ban that came into force in 1986. The target of the Norwegian whalers are the minke whales, whose population in the North Atlantic is estimated at ~ 100,000 animals. Around 14,000 minke whales have been killed in Norwegian waters over the last 25 years. However, international protests had focused on Japan in the past. But now it seems that the Norwegian government has crossed a red line. This is because the responsible food safety authority(Mattilsynet) has given permission to conduct experiments on wild minke whales.
Because cetaceans rely on sound for communication, it is important to understand their ability to hear so that we can better assess the effects of human-generated sound.
Norwegian Food Safety Authority, project description
As part of these experiments, minke whales will be captured off the Lofoten island of Vestvågøy to study how their brains react to underwater noise. The granted approval period lasts from 01.01.2021 until the end of 2022. Mattilsynet write about this on their website (excerpt): “Human-induced noise is a problem for cetaceans in general and baleen whales in particular. Because cetaceans rely on sound for communication, it is important to understand their hearing ability to better assess the effects of human-generated sound. However, previous research in this area holds great uncertainties. To better understand the effects of human-generated sound on cetaceans, direct measurements of hearing must be made. The planned experiments involve measuring the electrical signals generated by the brain when an animal hears a sound. For this purpose, wild minke whales will be captured, kept in an enclosure for 3-4 days and released after the “hearing test” is completed. A total of 12 animals will be used for the so-called AEP (acoustic evoked potential) hearing test and equipped with satellite tags.”
According to the Food Safety Authority, this experimental procedure should have a maximum exposure of six hours, which is “moderate” for the whales. Whatever moderate means in this context.
Specifically, imagine trying to herd migrating young minke whales into an enclosure with a kilometer-long net and then holding them in small cages. There, researchers hope to measure the brain waves of the captured whales to determine how they respond to noise sources coming from oil and gas production activities. The agency admits that “This is a very new research project…. Audiograms have never been recorded on baleen whales before and, nor has anyone successfully captured a baleen whale before.”
Norwegian and international animal protection organisations are not very enthusiastic about these experiments. WDC, the Whale & Dolphin Conservation, Animal Welfare Institute and the Norwegian organisation NOAH ask their members to call on Norway not to carry out the planned experiments. Dr. Siri Martinsen, a veterinarian at NOAH, points out that “the circumstances of the experiment put enormous stress on the animals and may even affect their health.” The proposal to sedate the whales or anesthetize them in “emergencies” is met with little sympathy. Vanesa Tossenberger, Policy Director at WDC, warns, “Little is known about sedation or anesthesia of wild cetaceans. But the limited data available suggests that sedation of baleen whales in the wild could be life-threatening.”
“This is animal cruelty with no usable data in the end.. I don’t understand why this is funded and allowed.”
Heike Vester, Board member of Ocean Sounds
In addition, the experiment also affects other animals, as they get tangled in the nets that are used to cordon off the research area. Heike Vester, board member of Ocean Sounds (Marine Mammal Science & Conservation) also has a clear opinion on this: “This is animal cruelty with no usable data in the end. I don’t understand why this is being funded and allowed.” Regardless, however, the experiments are scheduled to start this month.
